Kaizer Chiefs undone by errors in first defeat of the season, says Nasreddine Nabi

Kaizer Chiefs’ unbeaten start to the Betway Premiership came to an abrupt end on Tuesday night, as they slumped to a defeat against Sekhukhune United at FNB Stadium, with costly errors leaving Nasreddine Nabi frustrated.

The Soweto giants had collected 13 points from their opening five matches and appeared to be building solid early-season momentum in Nabi’s second campaign at Naturena.

But up against Eric Tinkler’s well-drilled Sekhukhune side — who have surprisingly emerged as the league’s early pacesetters — Chiefs looked vulnerable in key moments and were duly punished.

“I would say we knew going into this game that it was a difficult match against a difficult opponent,” Nabi said afterwards.

“But I feel we made a lot of mistakes that led to goals. Sekhukhune posed us a lot of problems, especially in transition and with long balls that we couldn’t deal with.

“We were not good enough today, even in our offensive game. We created some opportunities but it wasn’t good enough to control the game or to be in front.”

Veteran striker Bradley Grobler gave the visitors the lead in the first half, capitalising on a defensive mix-up. Chiefs briefly lifted themselves when Flavio da Silva netted the equaliser, but they never looked fully comfortable.

In the second half, Grobler struck again to restore Sekhukhune’s advantage before Thabang Monare added a third to seal a statement win for Babina Noko.

“Sekhukhune deserved the three points today,” Nabi admitted.

“For the first goal, two players went for the same ball and after a flick there was no cover. The second goal, we had the ball and gave it away in a very critical area. The third goal was a long ball and a flick (from Grobler). We acknowledge the intelligence of Grobler, but these are mistakes we believe we could have avoided.”

The result not only ended Chiefs’ unbeaten run but also raised questions about the balance of a squad still adjusting to Nabi’s methods.

Chiefs had ground out wins earlier in the campaign without fully convincing, and this defeat provided a reminder that their progression remains a work in progress.

While supporters will view the loss with disappointment, it may also be seen as a reality check for a team still under construction.

Nabi’s second season is about evolution rather than overnight transformation, and the Sekhukhune game exposed areas that demand urgent improvement — from defending transitions to ensuring composure in possession.

Attention must now shift quickly to continental commitments. Amakhosi travel to Angola this weekend to face Kabuscorp in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round.

For Nabi, the tie represents both a chance to bounce back and an opportunity to prove his side can respond to setbacks with resilience.

As far as the league is concerned, Chiefs will need to ensure that one defeat does not spiral into a loss of momentum. For now, Sekhukhune’s clinical finishing has handed Amakhosi an early-season reminder: there is no room for repeated mistakes if they are to sustain a genuine challenge